Ashley Boren takes over Ringgold volleyball program

July 25th, 2014by Kelley Smiddie in Sports - Preps

Ringgold has hired Ashley Boren as its high school volleyball coach for at least the upcoming season.

Athletic director Robert Akins said Boren will be filling in for Kelly Delk, who is taking maternity leave. Delk succeeded John Gaston, the current head volleyball coach at Heritage when he left Ringgold a few years ago.

Akins said Delk could possibly return to the bench in the 2015-16 school year. He said the coaching situation will be reevaluated when the time is appropriate.

"We're excited to have her," Akins said of Boren, an all-around athlete at Ooltewah in the late 1990s who went on to play volleyball at Tennessee Wesleyan. "She's a quality person. In addition to that, I think she's a great coach. I know the girls love her. They're really excited."

Boren has been at Red Bank the last four years where she coached track and field. She spent two years helping with the volleyball program and she also has two years of volleyball coaching experience as an assistant with a Choo Choo club team.

Three years ago Boren became certified to teach special education. Ringgold Middle had an opening for a special-ed teacher, which is what attracted Boren to the area to begin with. The offer to coach volleyball ensued.

"I just happened to apply for the position at the middle school," Boren said. "I wasn't looking for a job, but it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

Ringgold, which competes in GHSA Region 4-AAA, will be looking for a repeat trip to the state tournament this season. But the Lady Tigers will be hoping for a better fate than last year's first-round loss to St. Pius X.

"As a new coach I want us to come together as a team and want us to have a good, fun year," Boren said. "We've got a lot of potential out there. Our goal is to definitely make it to state. I've loved it so far. I'm definitely excited to get the season started."